Ponte Vecchio

The most famous bridge of them all was built at the narrowest part of the Arno. It’s distinguished as being the only remaining bridge to have houses and shops on it. In part this is because something important was built on top of those: the Vasari Corridor. This secret passageway built by Vasari for Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1565 links the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. In 1593, the jewelry stores that tourists so love were brought to the bridge on command of Ferdinando, the Medici heir who thought that the previous tenants –butchers – smelled too bad in his corridor. During WWII, the treasures of the Uffizi gallery were stored in the Corridor. Hitler had been on a tour of it at the start of the war, and perhaps because of this, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge spared bombing during the German retreat of August 1944.Of the bridges mentioned in this post, it’s the only one that is pedestrian-only.

Stuart's Art Gallery

I've lived a life largely on the road, playing music around America and Europe, and along the way exploring cities, parks, and wilderness. Over time, I've built a collection of drawings, photos, and paintings.

From the Eiffel Tower to St. Peter's in Rome, from Edinburgh Castle to the winding streets of Amsterdam, I've carried a sketchpad and charcoal pencils. All of my charcoal sketches were done freehand, in the moment. Some, like the sketch of St. Peter's, were done in total darkness.

In the US, I've also used photography as a way to capture some of my favorite places, like the Appalachian Mountains, New Orleans, Mobile, and Charleston.

This site makes it easy to order inexpensive prints as well as framed items. You can have things shipped to you, or to others as a gift.

Thanks again for visiting, and please also check out my music at the website!